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Michael F. Easley
Governor
State of North Carolina
Office of the Governor
Governor's Press Office
State Capitol, Raleigh, NC 27603-8001
(919) 733-5612 - Toll Free 1-800-662-7005
FAX (919) 733-5166
For Release: IMMEDIATE Contact: Cari Boyce
Date: December 13, 2002 Phone: (919) 733-5612
DISASTER ASSISTANCE APPROVED FOR 33 NORTH CAROLINA COUNTIES
RALEIGH, N.C. -- In response to Governor Mike Easley's December 9 letter, the president has declared 33 counties as disaster areas.
"This declaration will bring critically important federal dollars to local governments and the state to help with the response and recovery costs from the winter storm," said Easley. "We will work closely with the state and local agencies to process these reimbursements as quickly as possible.
“I appreciate the responsiveness of the president and FEMA officials in granting this disaster designation and I am thankful for the efforts of our Congressional delegation in securing this much needed assistance.” Current estimates of the cost of responding to the storm already exceed $61 million dollars. Damage assessments are continuing in the state, and further assistance and designation of counties may be provided as more damage surveys are completed. Once the local damage assessments are completed and certified by the state and FEMA officials, the costs will be reimbursed to state and local agencies. The counties designated for the federal assistance are: Alamance, Alexander, Anson, Burke, Cabarrus, Catawba, Chatham, Cleveland, Davidson, Durham, Franklin, Gaston, Granville, Guilford, Halifax, Harnett, Iredell, Lee, Lincoln, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Moore, Nash, Orange, Person, Randolph, Rowan, Rutherford, Stanly, Union, Vance, and Wake.
Federal disaster funding is available to eligible local governments on a cost-sharing basis to cover debris removal, emergency services related to the storm, and the repair or replacement of damaged public facilities, including repairs to the publicly owned electric membership cooperatives. The federal government pays 75 percent of the costs. Affected counties in the state are also eligible to apply for assistance under the federal Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. The program makes funding available to local governments for approved projects that reduce future disaster risks. The 33 disaster-declared counties and the counties of Caldwell, Edgecombe and Forsyth are eligible for hazard mitigation, which is also 75 percent federally funded.
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Michael F. Easley
Governor
State of North Carolina
Office of the Governor
Governor's Press Office
State Capitol, Raleigh, NC 27603-8001
(919) 733-5612 - Toll Free 1-800-662-7005
FAX (919) 733-5166
For Release: IMMEDIATE Contact: Cari Boyce
Date: December 13, 2002 Phone: (919) 733-5612
DISASTER ASSISTANCE APPROVED FOR 33 NORTH CAROLINA COUNTIES
RALEIGH, N.C. -- In response to Governor Mike Easley's December 9 letter, the president has declared 33 counties as disaster areas.
"This declaration will bring critically important federal dollars to local governments and the state to help with the response and recovery costs from the winter storm," said Easley. "We will work closely with the state and local agencies to process these reimbursements as quickly as possible.
“I appreciate the responsiveness of the president and FEMA officials in granting this disaster designation and I am thankful for the efforts of our Congressional delegation in securing this much needed assistance.” Current estimates of the cost of responding to the storm already exceed $61 million dollars. Damage assessments are continuing in the state, and further assistance and designation of counties may be provided as more damage surveys are completed. Once the local damage assessments are completed and certified by the state and FEMA officials, the costs will be reimbursed to state and local agencies. The counties designated for the federal assistance are: Alamance, Alexander, Anson, Burke, Cabarrus, Catawba, Chatham, Cleveland, Davidson, Durham, Franklin, Gaston, Granville, Guilford, Halifax, Harnett, Iredell, Lee, Lincoln, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Moore, Nash, Orange, Person, Randolph, Rowan, Rutherford, Stanly, Union, Vance, and Wake.
Federal disaster funding is available to eligible local governments on a cost-sharing basis to cover debris removal, emergency services related to the storm, and the repair or replacement of damaged public facilities, including repairs to the publicly owned electric membership cooperatives. The federal government pays 75 percent of the costs. Affected counties in the state are also eligible to apply for assistance under the federal Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. The program makes funding available to local governments for approved projects that reduce future disaster risks. The 33 disaster-declared counties and the counties of Caldwell, Edgecombe and Forsyth are eligible for hazard mitigation, which is also 75 percent federally funded.
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